Drought concern cancels event

‘‘Our main competition surfaces had irrigation, but the other fields couldn’t be irrigated.’’ Maxine Mulligan

Manawatu¯ ’s drought has cost the region thousands of dollars in visitor spending money with the loss of a major equestrian event.

The four-day New Zealand National Horse and Pony Show is one of the biggest in the community following Horse of the Year, club chief steward Maxine Mulligan said.

It had been scheduled to take place at Manfeild Park in Feilding at the weekend, but the committee behind the event was so concerned at the effects from drought conditions, they felt forced to cancel.

‘‘It’s a pity, but people have been very understanding. They appreciate that we were concerned about the welfare of the horses,’’ Mulligan said.

‘‘We had competitors coming from the South Island, and many people coming for the weekend, who would have been spending money in the community. Motels, food outlets, petrol stations, all benefit from it usually.’’

There had been no criticism of the venue itself, she said. The decision was made ahead of last week’s rain, despite the forecast, because those travelling needed as much warning as possible. It was the first time the show had been cancelled that she knew of.

The dry ground was too hard for horses to safely be ‘‘warmed up and walked up’’ in the surrounding fields, before the competition.

‘‘Our main competition surfaces had irrigation, but the other fields couldn’t be irrigated.’’

As many as 250 horses were typically entered, with many groups of family and friends travelling to support the riders. But this year there were only 54 entries by early January, when numbers would normally be over 200.

‘‘Again I think it came back to the drought. People were aware Manawatu¯ had been declared a drought area just before Christmas.’’

The event had also faced other difficulties, including the loss of the old Feilding jockey club grandstands, previously used as support buildings for the event. They are no longer open due to earthquake safety concerns, so the cost for marquees would have added to the event’s costs, Mulligan said.

The National Horse and Pony Show had been held at Manfeild for the past two years, after being moved from Hastings, where it was held for several years after being based in Dannevirke.

‘‘It’s always been in this area in the school holidays. This year’s drought has been so different because it’s been so dry so early, we had six months of rain and then the tap turned off, and it just went rock hard.’’

Next year’s event is scheduled for January 10 to 13, but the venue is still to be decided.